Action items for contractors in the shutdown’s second week

Stop-work orders from government agencies to their partners in industry do not, in fact, entirely pause the business of federal contracting as companies have plenty to do as they prepare for the eventual reopening. This episode featuring Stephanie Kostro, president of the Professional Services Council, begins with a guide of what typically happens next after contractors receive those orders to stop work and wait for the directive to resume. From there, Kostro takes our Ross Wilkers through some of the basic action items that the trade association is recommending for its member companies and more with all eyes toward the shutdown’s inevitable end. Ongoing conversations with lenders and financial institutions are must-dos for companies well before, and while, the invoice payments freeze. Finding people inside government to speak with on deliverables is becoming more difficult, as Kostro explains. WT 360: Our first look at the shutdown and fiscal 2026's landscape Tracking shutdown costs now will determine what you can recover later Shutdown’s ripple effect: Contractors, small businesses face devastating economic hit The government shutdown playbook: cash flow, communication and recovery Don’t wait: GovCon must prepare now for a potential shutdown Reductions in force could make bad situation worse for federal contractors during government shutdown OMB deletes reference to law guaranteeing backpay to furloughed feds from shutdown guidance More employees set to receive furlough notices as shutdown drags on Shutdown poised to drag into next week as layoff threat looms RIF threat sparks union lawsuit as shutdown continues White House: Shutdown layoffs are just days away Government spirals into shutdown with Trump promising mass layoffs